Baseball star and Stoneman Douglas alumni Anthony Rizzo told the crowd, "There are a lot of communities who know what we are going through. I’m an American. I know something has to change before this is visited on another community.”

Stoneman Douglas High School Senior Class President Julia Cordover said the school was her "home away from home" and "home is where the heart is." She said her home had been attacked, but reassured students they would be strong and rebound.